Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates defeating Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka in three sets 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) less

Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates defeating Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka in three sets 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, ... more

Photo: Petr David Josek

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Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates defeating Germany's Tommy Haas in three sets 6-3, 7-6, 7-5, in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) less

Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates defeating Germany's Tommy Haas in three sets 6-3, 7-6, 7-5, in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June ... more

Photo: Michel Euler

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Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts after defeating Switzerland's Stanisas Wawrinka during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 5, 2013 in Paris. Nadal won 6-2, 6-3, 6-1. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) less

Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts after defeating Switzerland's Stanisas Wawrinka during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 5, 2013 in Paris. ... more

Photo: Christophe Ena

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Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns against Germany's Tommy Haas defeating him in three sets 6-3, 7-6, 7-5, in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) less

Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns against Germany's Tommy Haas defeating him in three sets 6-3, 7-6, 7-5, in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, ... more

Photo: Michel Euler

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Spain's Rafael Nadal returns against Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka defeating him in three sets 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) less

Spain's Rafael Nadal returns against Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka defeating him in three sets 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in ... more

Photo: Petr David Josek

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Switzerland's Stanisas Wawrinka holds his head as he plays Spain's Rafael Nadal during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 5, 2013 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) less

Switzerland's Stanisas Wawrinka holds his head as he plays Spain's Rafael Nadal during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 5, 2013 in ... more

Photo: Christophe Ena

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Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka returns against Spain's Rafael Nadal in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June 5, 2013. Nadal won in three sets 6-2, 6-3, 6-1. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) less

Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka returns against Spain's Rafael Nadal in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June 5, 2013. Nadal won in ... more

Photo: Petr David Josek

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Serbia's Novak Djokovic runs to return the ball to Germany's Tommy Haas, right, during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 5, 2013 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) less

Serbia's Novak Djokovic runs to return the ball to Germany's Tommy Haas, right, during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 5, 2013 in ... more

Photo: Michel Euler

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Germany's Tommy Haas reacts as he plays Serbia's Novak Djokovic during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 5, 2013 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) less

Germany's Tommy Haas reacts as he plays Serbia's Novak Djokovic during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 5, 2013 in Paris. (AP ... more

Photo: Michel Euler

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Germany's Tommy Haas makes an acrobatic return to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 5, 2013 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) less

Germany's Tommy Haas makes an acrobatic return to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 5, 2013 in Paris. (AP ... more

Photo: Michel Euler

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Russia's Maria Sharapova celebrates winning against Serbia's Jelena Jankovic in three sets 0-6, 6-4, 6-3, in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) less

Russia's Maria Sharapova celebrates winning against Serbia's Jelena Jankovic in three sets 0-6, 6-4, 6-3, in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, ... more

Photo: Petr David Josek

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Russia's Maria Sharapova serves against Serbia's Jelena Jankovic in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June 5, 2013. Sharapova won in three sets 0-6, 6-4, 6-3. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) less

Russia's Maria Sharapova serves against Serbia's Jelena Jankovic in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June 5, 2013. Sharapova won in ... more

Photo: Christophe Ena

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Serbia's Jelena Jankovic stretches in her quarterfinal match against against Russia's Maria Sharapova at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June 5, 2013. Sharapova won in three sets 0-6, 6-4, 6-3. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) less

Serbia's Jelena Jankovic stretches in her quarterfinal match against against Russia's Maria Sharapova at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June 5, 2013. Sharapova ... more

Photo: Christophe Ena

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Serbia's Jelena Jankovic returns against Russia's Maria Sharapova in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June 5, 2013. Sharapova won in three sets 0-6, 6-4, 6-3. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) less

Serbia's Jelena Jankovic returns against Russia's Maria Sharapova in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June 5, 2013. Sharapova won in ... more

Photo: Christophe Ena

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Victoria Azarenka of Belarus returns against Russia's Maria Kirilenko in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) less

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus returns against Russia's Maria Kirilenko in their quarterfinal match at the French Open tennis tournament, at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday June 5, 2013. (AP ... more

Photo: Michel Euler

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Russia's Maria Kirilenko returns the ball to Belarus' Victoria Azarenka during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 5, 2013 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) less

Russia's Maria Kirilenko returns the ball to Belarus' Victoria Azarenka during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 5, 2013 in Paris. (AP ... more

Photo: Michel Spingler

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Russia's Maria Kirilenko serves the ball to Belarus' Victoria Azarenka during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 5, 2013 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) less

Russia's Maria Kirilenko serves the ball to Belarus' Victoria Azarenka during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Wednesday, June 5, 2013 in Paris. (AP ... more

Photo: Michel Spingler

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Djokovic-Nadal semifinal showdown is fit for kings

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Paris

The ease with which Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic swept aside their quarterfinal opponents at the French Open was remarkably similar.

Now comes the showdown everyone's been anticipating since the field was set nearly two weeks ago: A Djokovic vs. Nadal semifinal Friday that will have the feel of a final, and not only because they met for the championship at Roland Garros a year ago.

"A lot of people in the tennis world are looking to the matchup coming up with Rafa and Novak," said Haas, who at 35 was the oldest French Open quarterfinalist since 1971. "I'll definitely be watching."

Who wouldn't?

Djokovic, ranked and seeded No. 1, against Nadal, owner of a record seven French Open titles, including three in a row.

Djokovic, trying to become the eighth man to complete a career Grand Slam, against Nadal, trying to become the only man to win eight trophies at one major tournament.

Djokovic owns six major titles, Nadal 11.

Djokovic is 33-4 this season and reached his 12th consecutive major semifinal, the second-longest streak in history.

Nadal is 41-2 since returning in February after missing seven months because of a left knee injury.

That absence is why Nadal's ranking slid and he was seeded No. 3, so was drawn to play Djokovic in the semifinals; their previous 11 matchups came in tournament finals.

It's all enough to render Friday's other semifinal something of an afterthought, even if local fans have a rooting interest when No. 6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France faces No. 4 David Ferrer of Spain.

Tsonga, who beat Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, wants to give France its first male champion at Roland Garros since Yannick Noah 30 years ago.

Djokovic and Nadal will be playing each other for the 35th time. Nadal holds the edge in every category: 19-15 overall, 6-3 at majors, 4-0 in Paris, part of his 57-1 mark at the clay-court tournament. But Djokovic did win their most recent encounter, in the final at Monte Carlo on clay in April.